Ben Roethlisberger has been in the NFL for 18 years. His Wild Card showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs may be the final game of a Hall of Fame career. That, evidently, is the only game he’s interested in playing this week.
That could explain why, at the end of his Wednesday press conference before heading to Kansas City, he dropped a bit of brutal, candid honesty on reporters.
“[The Steelers] probably aren’t supposed to be here. We’re probably not a very good football team,” Roethlisberger told reporters assembled in Pittsburgh. “Of 14 teams that are in [the 2022 NFL Playoffs] we’re probably number 14. We’re double-digit underdogs in the playoffs, so let’s just play and have fun and see what happens.”
"We don’t have a chance, so let’s just go in and have fun."
—Ben Roethlisberger on the Steelers' playoff game vs. the Chiefs
(via @steelers) pic.twitter.com/ajZJkG0PSk
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 12, 2022
It was a refreshing display of awareness in a process typically reserved for vague platitudes and typical coach speak. Roethlisberger knows how this looks to the world. He’s fully aware Pittsburgh trailed 36-3 in Arrowhead Stadium when these two teams met in December. He understands the Steelers’ place in the postseason was the result of a stunning Jacksonville Jaguars win and kinda/sorta Brandon Staley’s ability to call a game-losing timeout.
And he’s embracing it! Pittsburgh is truly in a no-lose situation. The Steelers are not, in fact, supposed to be here. They ranked 23rd in total offense this season and 24th in total defense. Only two of their nine wins in 2021 came over playoff teams.
“We’re probably 20 point underdogs [actually 11.5, per Tipico] and we’re going to the #1 team, I know they’re not the #1 seed but they’ve won the AFC the last two years,” said the veteran quarterback as he wrapped up his press conference. “We don’t have a chance. So let’s just go in and have fun.”
It’s a bold move, but it makes sense. Why not treat Sunday’s game like the found money it is? After all, if Roethlisberger isn’t worried about losing if what’s likely to be the final game of his career, why should the rest of his team?
And hell, maybe this relaxed, “try your best” Steeler team can pull it off. I mean, probably not, because they’re just as bad as Roethlisberger pointed out, but if the Jaguars can beat the Colts, surely Pittsburgh can at least keep pace with the Chiefs. For a couple of drives, at least.
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